Vaxxers

by Brea L.R.

Seventeen-year-old Ace is running out of time. Any day now, he will become a Flesh Faller. Just another teen fallen in the seventy years since it began. With each generation, hope slips further for humanity. Then Ace’s long lost father returns with a message. He may have found a cure. Ace leaves the safety of his hometown of Lakelan to travel through many dangers. Facing gangs who sell Vaxxers, Flesh Fallers and waiting to turn any day… will he find a cure in time? Will he find a cure at all? Find out, in Vaxxers. Vaxxers is Brea Behn’s fifth book. To see more of her work, visit www.amazon.com/author/breabehn.

Genres: Horror, Dystopia

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2017

Reviews

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vaxxers

What would you do if you knew you would never see your eighteenth birthday? In Acer's world, everybody changes, becoming a Flesh Faller.

Acer's father left his family to find a cure, but is a cure possible? When Ace finds out that his father is still searching, he decides to leave his home & try to find him.

Even though this is a "zombie book", it's so much more. The descriptions of the treatment that Ace goes through, year after year, just to be able to spend a few months with his family, are poignant. I can only imagine that this is how people going through chemo or other treatments might feel. The pain, often verging on torture, that they have to endure, just for a few more days with their loved ones is unimaginable for those of us who have never had to experience it.

Even though the subject is very dark, there is also a lot of hope in this story. I enjoyed reading it very much. If you are looking for something different in a Zombie book, give this one a try. Well done, Ms. Behn!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating take on zombies! Rarely do we see books in the zombie genre with unique twists like this, and it's done so well. Behn brings a more humanized feel to them on one hand, while keeping them mindless monsters on the other; a tough balancing act for sure, but she does it beautifully. With all of the new diseases and 'cures' we have nowadays, a future like this isn't too far fetched. Maybe we can take note of how a hurried approach to solving a problem can lead to changing humanity forever. Drastic and dramatic, sure, but all it takes is a butterfly to alter the course of history forever.

[K.D. Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise for Behn's zombies in her novel Vaxxers felt stretched. Choosing this medium for spreading awareness of Chiari Malformation though was quite a surprise. (It certainly made me do my research.) There was a lot of word confusion in the novel as well as grammar errors that really brought the reader out of that world, and for all of these reasons above, it did lose stars. The progress of the story also seemed to be largely driven by testosterone and convenience. For example, the main protagonist, Ace, is close to turning eighteen, and becoming a teenager is the supposed trigger for turning into a zombie at the start of the novel. With this in mind, he notices that he is the only person of his age in a small community (something that has obvious answers provided the backstory that the reader has up to this point) just before the community leader explains that he will be locked up for the night in order to protect everyone. In general, Ace is an angry person, and many of the actions that he takes in the book are motivated by temper, like storming into a neighboring city where he meets a few of the lesser characters in the novel. Things like this happen periodically throughout the book, and again, the convenience of it is a bit disorienting. Outside of that, there is comic relief in the fact that parents name their children after technology from "Before". Ace is short for Acer, like the computer, and Acer's brother's name is Ap, short for Apple. There is a lot of excitement, and the scenarios move quickly. Similar to The Walking Dead, there is just about enough time to get attached to a character before the character is gone again by one literary mechanism or another. By and large, Behn has talent, and the writing is solid even if the story arc could use work. By the end of the book, it was worth the read. I would call it a good snowy weekend project and give it three stars. 

[John Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a true adventure story full of suspense, mystery and of course, zombies, then this book will not let you down. The story follows Ace, who as a young adult has quite a bit on his plate. In addition to being married, his wife expecting a child and the possibility that at any moment he could turn into a "flesh faller", he struggles to find the best place for himself in the world. Instead of staying with Sam, his wife, he decides to set off on a journey; a journey that reunites him with past family members, unfamiliar faces and into sticky situations. Follow Ace as he looks to find hope for not only the rest of his life, but for the rest of humanities as well.

I highly recommend this book and loved the theory behind it. The thought of turning into a blood thirty, flesh eating monster at only 18 years old is a daunting one. Definately glad I picked this one up and I look forward to reading more of Mrs. Behn's stories.

[Cheer Papworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read a lot of post-apocalyptic fiction it's easy to get bored, especially when it's zombie fiction, but NOT this time folks! Vaxxers is a fresh take on the how, why, where and when of becoming a zombie. It doesn't shy away from the ugly emotional process of changing from the POV of the infected AND the toll it takes on surviving family members. I love the pace, desperation, sacrifice and will to survive that Brea Behn portrays in Vaxxers. The odyssey Ace finds himself on is fascinating as he encounters communities struggling in their own unique ways to survive. He's just a kid racing to grow up, make a short lived life for himself and leave a legacy of survival for future generations. Fun read! I highly recommend it!

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.... that's how one must start with a review of Vaxxers. Wow...
We find ourself already in the middle of a world overrun with "Flesh Fallers", zombies, and we meet Ace. Ace is a young man, a teenager that is on the verge of great change. This change is not for the better.
Ace is about to become one of them!
He sets out on a journey inadvertently at first, but he goes out to find a cure. What he ends up finding is a life that will change the course of history.
There are some seriously heartbreaking moments here, I found myself really feeling for Ace... towards the end of the book there is such pain in his life that I wonder how much could really be on someone before they snap.
Very intriguing, and thought provoking.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few of this authors books. She has a way with words and fleshing out the characters seem like real breathing people. Which is a great thing. Draws you into the story.
I was not sure what this was going to be about. I never guessed, which for me, is a good thing. It was nice to not have zombies coming at you. It is getting a tad old. It is more apocalyptic, medical, yet hopeful. I can't give away the story line. No spoilers. ☺
I will say buy this and get lost for a while in her story. Then grab more of her stories. You will love them.

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different version of a zombie world. Almost everyone becomes one by the age of 18. Would you believe a cure is possible as you change back and forth again and again? Would you take what little time you have with your family even as it rips you apart inside what you do miss? This is written from the perspective of a young man which gives you that partly innocent and simple feel as you read.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different than most zombie books I've read. I liked that it was about whether Ace would be cured or not. There wasn't too much zombie action, but there was some. I really liked the adventure that Ace went on, and I kept reading wanting to know what would happen. Overall I thought it was a pretty good book, and I was satisfied with the ending.

[Livvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! We follow Ace on search for his father and care. That changed the human race forever! All most every teen that reach 18 changed into something between zombie - vampire type thing.
Ace went through whole lot during his journey at least finally turned out great for all. I hope to read more after the ending because something this big needs a follow-up!!

[Julie Eger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a mind-bender for sure! The tug of war in this story keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen to Ace next. You won’t know who to trust, when to trust them or for how long.

[Felicia A Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

YAYYYYYY! Another editing project is now a published book!

[Michelle Weese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great take on the zompoc! An emotional roller-coaster ride! I love the clever names for the children. Ace is a lovable main character and makes you feel what he is feeling. Good read!

[Cheree Castellanos Edits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I loved this book. What a scary thought, that we could hurt on such a magnificent scale by trying to save lives and end a horrible disease.
I also loved how we got a complete story here, yet it is still just the beginning. Great characters, constant action without long drawn out scenes. Well written and kept me wanting more. Can't wait for the next book and to see where everyone is gonna go from here, and what is next for Ace!

[H Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, original and fast paced. Really enjoyable read!